Thursday, March 31, 2011

There is a new show on TLC, EXTREME COUPONING! I have had some luck in the past with my coupon methods but these ladies (and gentlemen) truly inspire me. They can go into a store fill 3-4 grocery carts with about $600 worth of food and the spend $6-10 on average. I AM NOT THAT GOOD! However, I want to learn. I am planning on spending the next two weeks researching online how these people do this. There have to be tricks.

There is one gentleman on the show that hasnt paid for toilet paper or deodorant in years--he gets it 100% free. I don't know how but I intend to find out.

I have used a method in the past that I witnessed at Walmart. Another mom had a 3 ring binder full of baseball card protectors and each protector held a coupon (nine per page). The coupons were sorted by category. I use categories such as cleaning, medication, food, personal care, misc, etc.

The SUnday paper is a great place to start to get coupons but with one income and a shoe string budget I dont even subscribe to the paper. So I get most of my coupons online. Yes this too does carry an upfront cost of ink but you get that money back in grocery savings.

There is nothing more gratifying (well ok maybe some things) than saving $40, $60, $70 on your grocery bill. That I HAVE done. $600, not quite there yet.

But I am motivated!

I am organizing a coupon exchange at my Church (The Church at Tree Lake). I am placing a basket on a table by the nursery and filling it with coupons that I have printed or received but will not use. I am asking the congregation to do the same...this will increase our pool of available coupons. Also I am sure there are Sunday paper subscribers that do not use coupons at all--I am hoping they too will being in their's.

I have included some pics of my coupon binder. One trick I have learned on my own is to place a blank pice of paper between each baseball card protector so that each page does not blend in the pages behind it. This make it much easier to see which coupons you have. Also I fold my larger coupons in half so that they will fil in the alloted baseball card space. I make sure to have the product picture and saving amount facing up and the expiration date facing back. This makes it easy to know what you have but also to know when yu need to cull old coupons (about ever 3 months). Stay on top of those expiration dates!!!!

Hope this inspires some of you to join the couponing world! And if not---then pass along your coupons to MUAH! :)

If you too are a coupon diva then please comment and pass your tips along to me. Teach me, I want to learn!!!!

The author of "Tell Me About Easter, Aunt Lou" does a good job pulling both the secular and spiritual belief into an allegory for the young mind. She challenges the reader in differentiating between the secular ways of east bunnies;easter eggs;easter baskets; parties; new apparel, etc. and the Spiritual way of Jesus giving His life to everyone through His suffereing and pain, and then His miraculous resurrection, giving us an opportunity for a complete and new way of life full of happiness and fun-filled lives through our belief and obedience ito Him. She wraps the two comparisons up into a neat children's story. --Cyndi Anderson mom and preschool teacher Visit auntloubooks.weebly.com to read more reviews and learn about the author Rachel Stolle

Monday, March 21, 2011

What a great gift to add to this year's Easter basket! Tell Me About Easter, Aunt Lou uses beautiful language and illustrations to explain the true meaning of Easter to curious children. As a person who was lucky enough to know Aunt Lou, I can say Mrs. Stolle does a wonderful job telling the story just as she would have. Aunt Lou always had a way of explaining a story so that anyone could understand, which is exactly what this book does. It would be a wonderful story to share with your children, grandchildren, or Sunday school class!
-Sumer McDOnald Cooner (and little Henry too)

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Unfortunately we live in an imperfect world. There are bad people. Personal safety is something parents have to constantly stay aware of for their innocent children. As a childhood sexual abuse survivor by a distant family member, this examiner can speak first hand to the darkness that lurks inside the human soul. Sexual abuse is something that follows you for the duration of your life. You heal, you cope, you forgive but you will always be scarred.
This is such a difficult topic for parents to discuss with their children. You want to give them the knowledge they need to say no when appropriate, but you don’t want to make them fearful or steal their innocence by too graphic of an explanation.
In Central Texas alone you can read about countless child abuse allegations at online news sites like kwtx.com and kxxv.com. It is a reality, and a dangerous one.
A new book written by Julie K. Federico, and charmingly illustrated by Kurt Jones gives parents a resource to speak to their children about keeping themselves safe in an imperfect world.
“Some Parts are Not for Sharing” is an adorable, kid-friendly guide to what parts of our bodies are not for others to touch. The introduction of the topic by cute fishy characters lightens the subject matter and keeps children’s attention. The explanation of private parts being what is covered by a bathing suit is effective while not being too graphic for small ears.
This book will empower generations of children and give them a voice, and opportunity to say NO to what is improper before they are exploited.
This examiner, mother, and child abuse survivor gives “Some Parts are Not for Sharing” five out of five stars. This book is a great read, not too long to lose your child’s attention, and wonderful to add to your home library.
“Some Parts are Not for Sharing” is published by Tate Publishers and some versions even come with a free audio download. The book is appropriate for age 6 months and up.
Read more Here:
http://www.examiner.com/child-care-in-waco/book-for-parents-to-empower-their-children-against-sexual-abuse-review
and get ordering information at above link as well.

Monday, March 7, 2011

"Tell Me About Easter, Aunt Lou” is about much more than Easter eggs & the Easter bunny. It uses brightly colored illustrations and the concept of having Jesus as a best friend to tell the story of Christ from His birth to the resurrection. This would be a great book for the whole family to gather together and read out loud.
~Carol Stolle
mom, mother-in-law, and grandmother

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About Boobie

AKA: Rachel

I am a former High School teacher turned stay-at-home mom of 2 beautiful girls. I worked part-time as a preschool teacher. I graduated from Baylor University in 2003 with a BA in biology. I enjoy birdfeeding, crafting, reading, homemaking, couponing, writing and illustrating childrens books and bargain shopping.

I am married to my best friend, a mellow, loving, man who thinks the world of me.